• Question: why do joints pop and crack

    Asked by Kirito to Jos, Kate, Lisa on 20 Nov 2014.
    • Photo: Kate Dobson

      Kate Dobson answered on 20 Nov 2014:

      I had to look this up as volcanoes don’t have much to do with cracking joints (except that climbing them sometimes makes mine crack).

      Apparently the noises can be caused by three things: 1) the formation of gas bubbles as you move the joint, these then dissolves back into the fluid that is in you joints quite naturally. 2) the movement of tendons and ligaments, when the noise is kind of like the twang of an elastic band, and 3) the grinding of rough surfaces togther when the joint has arthritis.

    • Photo: Lisa Simmons

      Lisa Simmons answered on 21 Nov 2014:

      There are a few reasons why you can here your joint popping and cracking.
      The popping noise is usually the escape of gases trapped between the joints.
      There can be movement of tendons and ligaments that can ‘snap’ back into place producing a popping sound.
      Cracking is more likely to do with loss or cartilage between the joints, causing a grinding of two rough surfaces.

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